Kevin Nolan has admitted the Newcastle squad have been left in shock following Chris Hughton's exit.
Skipper shocked at departure
Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan has admitted that the squad have been left in shock following Chris Hughton's exit.
Hughton became the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season as he departed St James' Park on Monday.
Midfielder Nolan revealed that few at the club saw what was coming and he admits Hughton was not expecting it.
"Chris was gutted about what had happened. You could see that," he told
The Sun.
"But it said so much about him that, even though he was obviously disappointed to be going, he was still telling me and Joey [Barton] that we had to make sure we had a good season.
"There was such a dignity about the way he left, which is how he conducted himself while he was the manager.
"We have not had the greatest run recently. But we are halfway up the table and he was very confident we would still do well and spoke about how he believed in us.
"He said goodbye to all the staff at the ground and plans to come back and see the rest of the players to wish them well.
"We are all upset that Chris is going. He helped a lot of the lads here with their careers when he was a coach and then as manager.
"We will never forget our promotion from the Championship last season and we have to do what he told us. Stick together, make sure we keep the unity Chris has built up and get through this difficult period.
"It goes without saying we were shocked by the announcement. Sometimes at clubs, when a manager goes, there will be some players who are pleased to see the back of him, either because they are not in the team or they have a grudge against him.
"But everybody liked Chris. He was very popular, not just with the players but everyone who worked for the club."
